how short can i cut a shotgun barrel and stock?

i found 2 mossberg 500a 12 ga. for $100 each used. love them. a friend said he would sell me his mossberg 500a for $100 also. so thats 3 used hunting shotguns i have. i want to cut one for home defense.

i know the barrel has to be something like 18" or 18 1/2" not counting the 3" chamber. but whats the overall length limit cause i want to cut the stock as much as i can.

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bigalexe

January 28, 2010, 11:03 PM

IIRC its a minimum 26" for Overall Length to be considered a Long-Gun

chicharrones

January 28, 2010, 11:08 PM

Stay at or above this for Federal Law-

"Short barreled shotguns (SBSs) - this category is defined similarly to SBRs, but the length limit for the barrel is 18" . . . , and the barrel must be a smoothbore. The minimum overall length limit remains 26"." - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Firearms_Act

There may be state laws that differ. The chamber is part of the barrel in anything but a revolver for the most part. The receiver is not part of the barrel.

oneounceload

January 28, 2010, 11:15 PM

And that 26" is measured along the barrel/rib in a straight line, NOT on a diagonal from muzzle to pistol grip

highorder

January 28, 2010, 11:27 PM

i know the barrel has to be something like 18" or 18 1/2" not counting the 3" chamber. but whats the overall length limit cause i want to cut the stock as much as i can.

The barrel must be a minimum of 18" from the muzzle to the breachface with the bolt closed. Run a dowel down the barrel and measure that way; That's how I hear the BATFE does it.

David E

January 28, 2010, 11:29 PM

How short do you think it needs to be ?

lobo9er

January 28, 2010, 11:34 PM

18 1/4 chop it, you got 3 for the price of one.

jakemccoy

January 29, 2010, 03:11 AM

I'd cut the barrel to no less than 18.25" if I were you. If you shoot someone with a barrel that's 17.9", I have no doubt the ATF, or whoever, would make your life 1,000 times more painful for doing so. Heck, if you even had a shotgun with a 17.9" barrel in your collection, that would be enough for the ATF to make your life 1,000 times more painful. So, destroy the barrel if you mess up and cut it too short. Measure using the method described above.

lobo9er

January 29, 2010, 12:41 PM

jakemccoy has good advice best to follow. quarter inch from jail time

Sam1911

January 29, 2010, 01:08 PM

Or file a Form 1 with the ATF, pay your $200 and make it as short as you want. Easy-peasy, as they say.

-Sam

jakemccoy

January 29, 2010, 02:45 PM

Or file a Form 1 with the ATF, pay your $200 and make it as short as you want. Easy-peasy, as they say.

Due to the underlying principle, I won't do that. Screw the ATF.

Sam1911

January 29, 2010, 02:47 PM

Screw the ATF

Well, that's really sticking it to the man! ;)

-Sam

lobo9er

January 29, 2010, 02:48 PM

the great state of ny doesn't recognize class 3 laws so depends where you live anyway

oneounceload

January 29, 2010, 03:08 PM

or pay the folks at Serbu for one of their "shortys" - that takes a $5 stamp, not the $200 one

chevyforlife21

January 29, 2010, 03:11 PM

be safe cut to 19 and measure with a dowel, with the bolt closed

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